Feeler for looms



April 2, 1929. i R. G'. TURNER 1,707,827

l EELBR FOR Lous Filed oec. ze. 1927 man a lire/:fur

2f I l [caro/ Gf Z/mer j@ 2 l? 5 5 *www Patented Apr. 2, 1929.

UNITED ASTATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD G. TURNER, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO CROMPTON & KNOWLES LOOM VWORKS, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORYORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

FEELER FOR LOOMS.

l Application led December 28, 1927. Serial No. 243,060.

This invention relates to improvements in weft replenishing looms andit is the principal object ot" the invention to provide a readily assembled detector wherein the several parts 5 are quickly disconnected from, each other.

In the usual multi-color weft replenishing loom the actuating lever which controls the operation of the magazine has a periodic movement which is interrupted at the time l of indication of weft exhaustion to initiate replenishment. The interruption is brought about by a controller pin which as ordinarily constructed is separate from the detector mechanism. The actuator lever and its control pin always occupy the same relative position with respect to the magazine but the detector Vis subject to adjustment longitudinally ol the shuttle depending upon the styles of bobbins and length of shuttles used. It is an important object of my present invention to malte the controller pin readily detachable trom the detector mechanism without requiring the use of tools so that by a mere hand operation the weaver or loom fixer may adj ust the controller pin to correspond with the varying positions of the detector mechanism.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a quicklyv detachable cover whichl can be clamped to the detector without the use of screws or bolts or other attaching means, the cover being held in place byfriction and being slipped ott the detector readily to permit inspection or adjustment of the detector parts. It is a further object of my invention to provide an improved form of weft detector clement formed of sheet metal and having bearing and detecting surfaces of increased thickness.

lVith these and other obj ectsin view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein I have shown a convenient embodiment of my invention,

Fie. 1 is a plan view of my improved detector showing the same moved forwardlyV to non-indicating position by a sufficient supply of weft, the cover being in section to illustrate the working 'parts of the detector,

Fig. 2 is a partial front elevation of the detector looking in the direction of arrow 2, Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section on line -3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of the detector element looking in the direction of arrow 4., Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section taken on line 5)*5 of Fig. 1 to illustrate the manner of mounting the removable controller pin,

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but With the detector moved to indicating posit-ion while in contact with an insuliicient supply of weft,

Fig. 7 is a detailed sectional view taken in the direction of arrow 7, Fig. 5 showing a portion of the removable controller pin, and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the method of removing the controller pin.

Referring to the drawings I have shown a teeler stand 10 and a guide 11 bot-h of which are fixed, said guide having a slot 12 extending substantially parallel to-the shuttle S to receive an actuator lever 13 mounted for vertical reciprocation in said slot. The inner or lett end of said lever is connected to the replenishing mechanism not shown and is effective to initiate replenishment when the detector indicates substantial exhaustion of wett. The device for determining the operation of the actuator lever includes a control member 14 havin an end which normally lies in the path o? the actuator lever but is withdrawn from such path when sufficient supply of weft is present on a detecting beat. The matter thus far described with the exception of the particular form of the'eontrol member 14 is of common construction and for a further description and understanding of the same reference may be had to patent to Ryon No. 1,030,748.

In carrying my improvements into effect I provide a feeler base having a depending foot 21 which may be Vsecured to the stand 20 by means of bolt 22 extending through mutually perpendicular slots 23 formed in the stand Aand foot to permit vertical and horizontal adjustment of said base 20 with respect to the stand 10. The base has a floor 24 from which extends upwardly longitudinal walls Q5 and rear and forward transverse walls 26 and 27, respectively.

A slidingfearrier 30 is provided with vertical longitudinal walls 31 which lie inside the adjacent walls 25 of the base and are guided by said walls to require the carrier to move forwardly in a line substantially perpendicular to the shuttle S. Said slide is provided at the rear end thereof with an upstanding studV and a stopV 335strucl; up from the bottoni of the carrier. The left side of said slidingcarrier as viewed in Figs. land G is provided with a plurality of guide ears three'of which are shown in the draw-V 3. ihe carrier is so proportioned that the Vrear end thereof normally lies against the bach transverse wall 26.

rlhe detectmg element 40 as shown more i' particularly in Figs. l, d and 6 comprises a single piece of sheet metal the rear end of which may be bent back on itself as at il to provide a portion of double thickness across which vertical varn engaging teeth Ll2 extend. The forward end of vsaid detector has a second portion i3 bent back on itself to provide a bearing of double thickness for the stud 32. A forwardly extending. tail all is positioned for engaging with the stop 33 when the detector is in normal position. Any convenient means as a cotter pin 33 maybe employed to restrain relative vertical movement of the detector and sliding carrier. Said detector is provided'with a transverse flange l5 through which extends a plurality of perforations fl@ and the detector is so made thatthe flange l5 and the teeth l2 lie to one side of the longitudinal axis of the detector with respect to the stud 32.

A single yielding means is provided to hold the parts in proper position, said means including a rod the rear end of which cxtends through one or another of the perforations i6 and the forward end of which is provided with a crimp 51 and is then extended through an opening 52 in the forward wall 27. A compression spring 53 surrounds the rod 50 and lies between the crimp 5l and the flange 45, said spring serving to hold the part-s in rear position with the rear end of the sliding carrier againstv the transverse rear wall 26 and with the tail lll against the stop 33 to properly position the detector 40. The pressure exerted by the spring 53 and tendy ing to resist angular movement of the detector member l may he varied by locating the rod 50 in one oranother of the perforations 4:6, the greater resistance to turning occurring when the rod is farthest from the axis of the detecting member.

The control member 14 a portion of which has already been described includes a transversely extended portion which may be opwhich as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 7 is provided with an offset 62 located between the guides 35 and 36, the purpose of the offset being to prevent back and forth movement of the control member relatively to thesliding carrier and said offset extending vertically as shown in Fig. 5 when the controller is in normal position. In this way the controller is held against displacement with respect to the sliding carrier under normal operating conditions of the detector. the portion (il may extend through the rear guide 3st to hold said control member mor firmly in place.

ln order to provide means for restraining upward movement of the sliding carrier and the detector with respect to the base 2O and also to prevent the accumulation of lint and dirt in the operating parts of the detector l provide a cover 7 0 having a top 7l from the edges of which depend flanges 7 space between the inner edges of said flanges is normally slightly less than the distance between the outsides of the walls 25 and said cover is made of pressed metal or other slightly resilient material so that the flanges 72 will be held frictionally against the walls 25. As viewed in Figs. l and 6 the right hand flange 72 may be shorter than the opposite flange to provide room for the swinging of the detector members l() should the latter receive an excessive movementfroni any accidental cause, such as a misplaced bobbin.

Under normal. conditions with the detector parts in their rearmost positionthe full supply of weft on bobbin B will engage tl. teeth let and move said detector forwardly so that the sliding carrier will assume the position shown in l? l with respect to the base 20. Because of the guide 36 control member l/l will be moved forwardly under these conditions and the actuator lever 13 will descend withoutinterruption. VV hen insufficient weft remains, iowever, the detector will slide along the bobbin to the position indicated in Fig. 6, the slidingcarrier remaining at rest because of the fact that the pressure of the compression spring 53 is applied to the detector at a point between the stud 32 and the teeth Zl2 with respect to the length of the bobbin. rl`lie control member lfl will therefore remain' under the actuator lever to interrupt the downward movement of the latter and initiate weft replenishment.

When it is desired to adjust the distance between the controller l/l which cooperates kwith the actuator lever 13 and the portion 61, the cover will be removed and the slide moved forwardly a sullicient distance to withdraw the controller end 14 from the stand l2, after which said controller may be turned The rear end of T he in al clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow C in Fig. 2 until the offset 62 lies flat against the bottom of the sliding carrier. In this position the offset can be slid forwardly through the opening of guide 35, the rear part of the portion 61 sliding forwardly between the slides 34 and 36. After the controller has been given its proper setting it can be inserted by an operation the reverso of that necessary for its removal. If it be desired to guard against accidental displacement of the controller pin from the stand 12 by having the controller pin extending into said stand when the sliding carrier is in Aits foremost position on the base, the carrier may be removed bodily fromthe base, there being no restraining screws, lugs or other projections extending from the base into the path of removal of the sliding carrier. Y

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a weft detector wherein the several parts thereof may -be readily disassembled so that adjustments may be made without requiring tools or other devices to take apart the several Velements of the detector. It will further be seen that the con# troller member can be quickly removed from the sliding carrier by a partial rotation so that the offset part ofthe controller will pass through the open guide 35. It will also be seen that 'the cover 70 which is frictionally held in position can be quickly removed but when in position serves to restrain upward movement of the sliding carrier and the detector. Furthermore, the detector is made of sheet stock one port-ion thereof bent back on itself to afford increased thickness and that said detector can have operative contact with the compression spring 53 at a pluralityV of distances from the axis of said detector.

The controller in the type of weft detector as set forth herein is normally in the path of the actuator and this sometimes causes slight annoyance when turning the loom over by hand with an empty shuttle as might be the case when starting up the warp for a new loom. Under these conditions there would be no agency acting to move the controller out of the path of the actuator and as a result every other pick of the loom would cause a downward movement of the transferrer arm and a releasing of bobbins should the magazine be supplied with the latter. The cover as set forth herein can be moved so that the vertical wall adjacent the actuator can be placed to hold the controller forwardly of the path of movement of the actuator So that the loom may be turned over by hand without the obj eetionable repeated operations of the magazine.

Having thus described my invention it will be apparent that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and y a support, a carrier slidable on scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In weft detecting mechanism for looms, the support, a regularly moving actuator effective to cause a change in the loom when movement thereof is prevented, a detecting element to engage the yarn mounted on the carrier, and a controller normally in the path of the actuator and withdrawn when sutlicient weft is present, said carrier and controller being held together by detachable means which are releasable only after an angular lmovement on the part of the controller relatively to the carrier.

2. In weft detecting mechanism for looms, a sliding carrier, a regularly moving actuator effective to cause a change in the loom when movement thereof is interrupted, a weft detecting element mounted on the carrier to cause forward movement of the latter when suiiicient weft is present, a controller for the actuator normally in position to interrupt movement of the actuator but movable from such a position when sufficient weft is present, and detachable interengaging connections between the carrier and the controller to cause said controller to move with the carrier, said controller and carrier being separable from each other only after an angular movement of the controller relatively to the carrier. Y

3. In weft detecting mechanism for looms, a sliding carrier, a yarn engaging detecting element mounted on the carrier to cause forward movement of the latter when sufficient weft is present, an actuatorelement having a regular movement on detecting beats of the loom and effective to cause a change in the voperation of the loom when saidY regular movement is interrupted, a controller member normally connected to and moving with the carrier and normally positioned to interrupt the regular movement of the actuator, and releasable interengaging connections between the controller and the carrier, said controller and carrier being separated only after an angular movement of the controller relatively to the carrier.

4. In weft detecting mechanism for looms, a sliding carrier member, a detecting element mounted on the carrier member to cause forward movement of the latter when suilicient weft is present, an actuator having a regular movement on detecting beats of the loom and effective when said regular movement is i11- terrupted to cause a change in the operation of the loom, and a controller member detachably connected to the carrier member and having a portion normally in the path of the actuator', said members being releasable from each other only after relative angular movements thereof.

5. In weft detecting mechanism for looms,

lally from the controller located an actuator having a regular movement on detecting beats of the loom and effective when such movement is interrupted to cause a chai'ige in the operation of the loom, a detect- 'ng element, a carrier on Which the element is mounted, said detector and carrier moving forwardly on detecting beats ot the loom when sulticient weit is present, a controller normally positioned to interrupt the downward movement of the actuator, guide means formed on the carrier to receive a portion of the controller, an open bearing formed on the carrier te receive other portions of the controller, and a. projection extending laterhetween the guide means and open bearing` and tending to prevent longitudinal movement of the carrier and controller, said controller being moi able angularly relatively to the carrier so that the projection may be Withdrawn through the open bearing.

u Y6. In Wett detecting mechanism for looms, an actuator having' a regular movement. on detecting beats or the loom and effective when such movement is interrupted to cause a change in the operation of the loom, a de tecting element, a carrier on which the element is mounted, said detector and carrier moving iorivardly on detecting beats ol' the loom when eu'l'iicient Weit is present, a controller normally positioned to interrupt'the dmvnward movement et the actuator, said controller having' a rearwardly extending portion operatively related to the carrier, a guide on the carrier to receive the rear end ot said 'portion ot the controller, a forward 1 openbearing on Athe carrier 'for the said portion of the'controller, and a laterally extending proyection mally to engage the open bearing and guide to prevent longitudinal movement of the con formed on the controller nor troller relatively to the carrier, said controller being removable4 from the Ycarrier only after the projection has been so placed that it may be withdrawn through the open bearingl of the carrier, whereby said controller may be disconnected from the'carrier.

7. In weft detecting mechanism for looms, a iixed stand, a carrier slidably mounted on the stand, a yarn engaging weft detecting element pivotally mounted on the carrier, a regularly moving actuator memberpacontroller for the member operatively connected to the detectin O element and normally in the path or" the actuator member, means defining upstanding Walls on the stand, corresponding alls formed on the carrier to engage the first named Walls to prevent relative lateral movement of the stand and carrier in the direction of the length of the surface to be detected, a cover extending over the carrier and rictionally engaging the Walls or the stand and positioned to prevent upward movement of the Walls of the carrier, said cover being movable in rictional engagement With the Walls of the stand to a position to engage and hold the controller out of the path of the actuator.

8. ln a We'ft detecting mechanism or looms, an actuating member, a control member to be engaged by the actuating member to initiate a change in the operation et the loom, a yarn engaging Wettdetector operatively connected With the control member, means including a cover to d'ene a housing for the yarn engaging member, said cover capable ot assuming a position to hold the control member out of operative relation with the actuating member.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto ai' fixed my signature.

mennen o. TURNER. 

